CNN's GUT CHECK | for April 15, 2014 | 5 p.m.
– n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle

BIDEN TO BOSTON: ‘TWISTED’ TERRORISTS WON’T PREVAIL … Honoring victims of last year’s bombing near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday the terrorists who carried out the act could never claim victory over America’s ideals.

“You will send a resounding message around the world - not just around the world but to the terrorists - that we will never yield. We will never cower. America will never ever stand down,” Biden told survivors. – Kevin Liptak

(CNN) - The Republican National Committee announced Tuesday, the day Americans file their taxes, it's suing the Internal Revenue Service over withholding records involved in the agency's targeting of conservative and other groups.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-California) has spent nearly a year investigating why the agency used conservative political terms like "Tea Party" and "patriot" to flag some applications for tax-exempt status.

(CNN) - A majority of Americans say Ukraine is important to U.S. national interests, but when it comes to the crisis in the eastern European country, only a small sliver of the public says Washington should consider military actions against Russia, according to a new national poll.

And the McClatchy/Marist survey also indicates that Americans are divided on how President Barack Obama's handled the situation in Ukraine.

Washington (CNN) - For weeks, the White House has on an almost daily basis applauded the Ukrainian government’s restraint in dealing with what many see as an attempted Russian takeover of more than just Crimea, repeatedly stating there should not be a military solution.

The Obama administration reiterated that sentiment on Tuesday, while also supporting Ukraine's movement of troops toward the worst trouble zones in the eastern part of the country.

(CNN) – Honoring victims of last year’s bombing near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday the terrorists who carried out the act could never claim victory over America’s ideals.

“You will send a resounding message around the world - not just around the world but to the terrorists – that we will never yield. We will never cower. America will never ever stand down,” Biden told survivors of the 2013 attack, which left three people dead and scores more injured.

(CNN) - Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes out raised Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell during the first three months of this year, but the five-term senator still holds a more than two-to-one advantage over his Democratic challenger when it comes to money in the bank.

The Senate battle in the Bluegrass State could turn into the most expensive and most bitter contest this year.

(CNN) - Just under half of all Americans (49%) believe the middle class pays too much in taxes, according to a new Gallup survey released Tuesday, the deadline for income earners to file their tax returns.

That level is up from 42% last year and marks the highest number since 1999, when 59% felt the middle class was dishing out more cash to the government than needed.FULL POST